LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- For the first time in five years, the University of Louisville men's basketball program has been voted into the Top 10 of the Associated Press basketball poll.
The Cardinals (27-7) came in at No. 10 in the poll released Monday, the final AP poll before NCAA Tournament play begins this week.
It's the highest national ranking for the program since March 2, 2020.
It's also the highest national ranking heading into NCAA Tournament play since the Cardinals were ranked No. 10 heading into the 2017 tournament. That team was a No. 2 seed but lost to Michigan in the second round in Indianapolis in the final college game for Donovan Mitchell.
This year's ranking will do little to calm the frustration around Louisville over this team's No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kelly Dickey, a stat specialist following the program, said that since tournament seeding began, the No. 10-ranked team entering the tournament has been seeded worse than a No. 4 seed only twice. Louisville as a No. 8 this year, and Wisconsin as a No. 6 in 2004.
Louisville will face No. 9 seed Creighton out of the Big East in Lexington at 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the first game of this year's tournament. The winner will play the winner of Auburn's game against either Alabama State or St. Francis.
Kentucky finishes the regular season at No. 18 after a pair of wins to close out the campaign. The Wildcats' ranking heading into the tournament is the program's lowest since it was unranked heading into the 2023 season.
Kentucky will face Troy in its tournament opener in Milwaukee at 7:15 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats would get the winner of Illinois and either Texas or Xavier.
Louisville Basketball Coverage:
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